LA movies grist to the Mill

London's leading visual effects company, The Mill, is to set up shop in Los Angeles, writes Ruth Sunderland

The Soho-based business's expansion is a sign of the growing strength of Britain's creative industry.

Owned by venture capitalist 3i, the Mill is the only British visual-effects company to win an Academy Award, for Gladiator in 2001. It has also worked on visual effects for Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.

The new office in Santa Monica, which will open for business in January, will be staffed by key creatives relocated from London and New York, as well as local talent.

Robin Shenfield, co-founder and chief executive, said: 'We are doing an increasing amount of business in the US, where there is a growing appetite for a more European style of post-production. Take a look at any creative media business throughout the world and you find amazing European talent working there.

'We are in a unique position, with offices in London, New York and now LA, to work with all the major advertisers and brands.'

The Mill, forecast to achieve sales of £40m this year, owns Beam.TV, a leading global advertising distribution business.